Production of hydrocarbons



L ALBER-rs' rnoDucTIoN oF HYDRocARBoNs' April 15, 1941.'

Fi1ed Apr11 1s. '1 958 www.

Patented pr. 15, 1941 f PRODUCTION F HYDROCARBONS Leonhard Alberts, Oberhausen-Holten, Germany,

assignor, by mesne assignments, to Hydrocarbon Synthesis Corporation, Linden, N. J.

c Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,807

In Germany April 17, 1937 3 Claims.

My invention relates to the production of hydrocarbons by catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide with hydrogen. It has particular reference to means whereby this reaction can be carried through in a particularly economical manner.

It is well known to those skilled in theart l that the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide for the production of hydrocarbons requires operation within a narrow range of temperatures and that therefore care must be taken to absorb the heat energy liberated in this exothermic reaction. It has therefore been suggested to carry should be provided for between the space traversed by the cooling medium and the reaction space, for instance by establishing a communication between the two vapor spaces.

' I In carrying through this process I may for instance proceed as follows: The gas mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen, for

instance in the proportion of 1CO:2H2, is conthrough the reaction in apparatus comprising a system of cooling tubes, on which are mounted heatV abducting sheet metal ribs spaced some millimeters from each other, the tubes being traversed for instance by hot water under a pressure suiliciently above normal to prevent boiling. The process based on the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide is disclosed in a general way in U. S. patent to Fischer and Tropsch No. 1,746,464.

It, in this process, the pressure in the reaction zone differs 'from the pressure `in the cooling tubes, tubes of pressure-resistive material, for instance a steel alloy containing chromev or nickel must be used, which Vcommands a high price. i

I have now found that the process can be carried through in a more,economcal manner in apparatus iltted with cooling tubes of some low priced material such as iron, if the reaction is carried through under a pressure, which approximately corresponds to the vapor pressure of the cooling medium (water) at the reaction temperature. This simple expedient enables me to dispense with pressure-resistive cooling tubes and to thus greatly reduce the first costs of the apparatus.

When using Water as cooling medium, I carry `through the reaction under the pressure acting on the water at the temperature at which the reaction occurs. If this temperature is for instance 160 C. the reaction is carried through under a pressure, in the reaction zoneyof about 6 atmospheres, since under this pressure water boils at 160 C. At a temperature, in the reaction zone, of 220 C. the pressure in this zone should be 23 atmospheres, since under this pressure water boils at 220 C.

Pressures ranging between about 2 and 50 atmospheres may bemaintained in the reaction zone.

For safetys sake an equalization of pressure ducted through a contact chamber traversed by rows4 of cooling tubes, on which are arranged sheet metal plates which serveto lead away the heat and which are spaced about 10 mms. from each other, .the interstices between the cooling tubes and the sheet metal plates being filled with the Contact massinducing the catalytic reaction. In the cooling tubes flows hot water placed under high pressure, for instance 11 atmospheres, and in that case havinga temperature of about 186 C. The heat energy developed in the reaction is absorbed by the cooling medium to such an extent that the temperature in the reaction zone does not exceed about 187 C. The gas freed from sulfur compounds, is introduced from below into the contact chamber under a pressure of for instance 11 atmospheres, and after having passed through the chamber, is cooled down in order to condense the condensable reaction products such as water, benzines and oils. 'Ihe gas is thereafter treated with activated carbon for the extraction of the low boiling benzines and hydrocarbons of the gasoline type.

When using for instance a cobalt catalyst ac-V tivated with thorium, one cubic meter of the gas mixture yields about -130 grams benzlnes and oils.

The ilow sheet annexed to this specification and forming part thereofv illustrates the process in a diagrammatic manner by way of example. The gas mixture containing CO and Hz rst enters a compressor B, in which it is placed under the desired pressure, and then flows through pipe C to the inlet D` of the contact -chamber E, escaping from same at F1 and flowtubes. These plates are arranged in closely spaced relation.`

The ends of the cooling tubes are connected to collector chambers Q1. Qa, illled with cooling medium, for instance water placed under pressure, which ows from the condenser T through pipe U1 into the chamber Q: and, after'l'iaving,`

traversed the cooling tubes P, enters the chamber Qgreturning to the condenser "T 'through pipe Us.

In order to provide i'or anegulization of pres-w sure between the reaction zone and the vapor space of the boiler T, these two spaces are connected with each other by the pipes Fi and Fs with valve Z which prevents the gaseous' produets of reaction from passing in substantial quantities into. condenser T.

The intersties between the cooling ribs or plates R and the cooling tubes P are filled with4 the body oi' catalyst, which rests on the perforated bottom S.

Various changes may be made in the details 2,238,760 Y- f Y ,A The contact chamberE is traversed by a sysdisclosed in the foregoing speciilcgtion without tem oi horizontal cooling tubes P, on which are departing from the invention or sacrificing the mounted ribs R formed of plain sheet metal advantages thereof. plates, eachv plate being traversed by all the Iclaim:

5 1. In the process of producing hydrocarbonsby reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogenin the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, in which the temperature in the reaction zone is controlled by means of a boiling cooling medium 10 conducted in tubes across the reaction zone, the

- step of carrying the reactionthrough under a pressure aillfa't a' temperature which approximately correspond to the pressure and the temperature under which the boiling cooling medium 15 passes through the cooling tubes.

2. l'I'he process oi claim l, in which the boiling cooling medium is water placed under a pressure o1' about 11 atmospheres, and the gas mix-V ture is passed through the reaction zone under 0, a similar pressure and ata temperature of about 186 c.`

a. The process or claim 1, 1n which the p rel sures in the reaction zone and the vapor zone, of, the cooling system are equalized by estab- 25 lishing' communication between said zones.

f LEONHARD AIBERTS. 

